Building a Legacy of Faith: Parenting with Purpose in Today’s World| Rev. Elisha Satvinder

Good morning everyone. Hey, at least give me a bit more. The kids get good morning. Good morning everybody. Good morning. So, you know, we always think of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, but, you know, because of just different things, we wanted to put it in between those two dates, but somehow the Parents’ Day is falling on Father’s Day. But, we all know where we are going, right? Amen.

Okay, so this morning, I basically want to talk about building a legacy of faith. Now we may look at it and say it’s parents, but I would like to say grandparents, you’re included and beyond grandparents. All of you who are single parents, all of you who are going to be parents, those of you going to get married, all the young people, the principle here is applicable to all of us. Amen. So, it’s applicable to all of us. There’s no way we can say it’s only applicable to one person here.

I want to start with the scripture from 1 Timothy, excuse me, 28, and I’m going to kind of, you know, carve out a couple more scriptures and then take us where I desire to take us this morning. It says, therefore, excuse me, I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. We’ll just leave it there.

So, it says, therefore, so what was Timothy saying seven verses before this? I mean, not Timothy, sorry, Paul. Paul is writing to Timothy. If the word therefore, he’s just wrapping it up and saying, I’ve said all these things here now, therefore, so in conclusion. So, if you look at the first seven verses, he’s actually talking about the importance of prayer. No, the message is not about prayer. It’s more than that. But Paul is going somewhere with this and he’s not just going to address the men, he’s going to address the women as well. So, from the whole this, you look at it, verses 1 to 2 talks about the call of prayer. He’s asking everyone to pray for people in position and I think it’s so important because you and I can be so critical of government, so critical of economy, so critical of issues that we forget to pray. We forget to take our position and we become critics, we become armchair activists and then we go on the Facebook and then we go in all these different places today and you know you can shoot it out everywhere. So, the issue is this. There’s a call to prayer and it’s not just saying, you know, hey we need to pray but we need to pray very intelligently, very focused.

So, let me say this one thing here is Timothy, I mean Paul is wrapping this up. Men, do we just grumble when we are at work, at business? Do we just criticize and criticize and criticize or do we take a posture of prayer? Do we understand the call of prayer? Because when we go home and we are complaining about the boss, we are complaining about work, we are complaining about business, we are criticizing people, guess who is listening? So, if you complain about church, criticize things, guess who is listening? So, the thing is Paul is being very clear here. So, he’s talking about the importance of prayer, verses 1 and 2. He talks about the call of prayer,

verses 3 and 4. He begins to talk about the purpose of prayer, why we need to pray for these things. Then he goes into this whole thing about salvation and he talks about his role and that’s all in the first seven verses. And he comes to verse 8, he says therefore, he said, I want men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. He links this whole thing.

So, he comes to the first point. So, fathers, I want to address all the men, not just fathers. Is this everywhere? This word everywhere, can I have the next slide, please? Yeah, everywhere. Can you shout the word everywhere? Everywhere. What does everywhere mean? Everywhere, right? But the thing is this. He said, lifting up holy hands. So, do you walk around everywhere? 

What are you doing? God says, lift up holy hands and bear with me, I want to explain this a bit more. But he’s saying everywhere, this instruction, these very clear instructions apply to us in all locations. Every location at work, yeah, but don’t walk around work like this. In class, yes. In your business dealings, whatever it is, anywhere, everywhere, all locations, in your car, in the whatever your mode of transport is, wherever we gather, it’s also the same thing. It’s not for a specific location. It covers every area. The issue is also this, our conduct, because when we look at it, it says lifting up holy hands. Lifting up holy hands, if we just relegate it to 20 minutes in worship, we have missed the point of this verse. We’ve missed it badly. The call of prayer extends beyond church services and prayer meetings and beyond your quiet time.

So, since I’m addressing the men here, I look at the men first and then the women, and then I’m going to bring all this together. Okay. Every area of our life, there is a call for consistent prayer. Consistent prayer, and that’s critical. As believers, all of us should embody this principle at home, at work, and in our communities. And you will hear me repeat these three things quite a bit in this morning’s message, home, work, community. Okay. Home, work, community. Why? Demonstrating a consistent faith. If you are just going to look at this verse and say prayer, lifting up hands, worshiping, we have missed it. The issue is the consistency of our faith. My faith is not just for two hours on Sunday or when I’m in trouble or when I’m doing my devotion. My faith transcends throughout my 24 hours, my every day of my life, and that’s important.

So, he goes to the second thing. He says that men should pray everywhere. That men should pray. This involves my private life and my public life. Why? He says everywhere. So, it’s my private life and my public life. I can’t divorce them. What you are on the inside, it will manifest on the outside. Okay. Everywhere men should pray. So, what’s happening here? He’s encouraging men. In fact, he’s commanding men to do one thing, take our spiritual leadership seriously. So, girls, if you just want to marry a sweet nothing who’s got money but has no sense of leadership or spiritual leadership, you got to ask yourself a hard question. Why are you marrying? Because I’m lonely, is it? Oh, what are you going to compromise? Parents, when we tell our kids how to get, you know, spouses, what is the indicator? What is the indicator? That’s important with this generation that we are in, with this woke culture, this cancel culture. Look at the way our society goes. Look at things. Look at how religion is weaponized. Race is weaponized. We look at the conflicts and then we ignore very clear scriptures that help us with clarity, navigating life and the young generation that’s being raised. I’ve said this over and over, social media influences them more than we do at home or church. So men, your position is an important position. Grandparents, same thing. 

So he says, I desire that men everywhere should pray. I desire men everywhere should pray. Doing how? How is he doing? He says, lifting up holy hands. Now in a church setting, this is obvious, but in your public life, because remember, he says praying where? Come on, praying where? Everywhere. So don’t relegate it to a church service. And men, we need a bit of fire under our backsides. Not the wrong fire, huh? Because I think we are the most complacent gender in this generation. We’re the most compromising people. It’s because of the weak leadership in men that we have this mess in our society. Clear your throats. Please, clear your throats. Yeah. If men take their rightful position, if men in politics know how to lead with godliness, some sense of what is right and wrong principle, can you imagine men that principle becomes so strong? Our teenage boys take that as an example and not looking at some movie icon as the person who inspires them. The girls are looking at these movie icons and they are getting inspired by them. Men, why not let them be inspired by our life? And sometimes because of that, women become so strong, you have weak males that they will get married to and the guy has no backbone. So there’s a conflict of issues here.

Here, he says, I desire men everywhere that they should be praying, lifting up holy hands. What

does holy hands mean? That means everywhere you go, come on, right? We’re talking about is the issue of reverence in the condition of my heart. Am I submitted to God? Okay. Hands describe a lot of things, right? If I come before God and I lift up my hands, it speaks of my posture. If at worship time I am doing this, it speaks of a posture. If at worship time I’m doing this, it speaks of a posture within me, and it’s important. So what do we understand here? He says, “Therefore, therefore,” from what he’s talking about—the importance of prayer, the call of prayer, the purpose of prayer, the place of salvation, people coming to know God. He says, “My role is this.” He said, “Now let me start with you, men.” He said, “Men, I desire that everywhere you be people who pray, that you understand this posture of submitting to me and reflecting a heart of reverence and consciousness towards God.”

Men, do we reflect reverence to God? Are our young boys picking up reverence from our posture? The physical act of lifting up hands reflects what? An attitude of surrender, a heart of worship, and reverence. So if we struggle to lift up our hands even just a few moments, I think that could speak volumes about things, isn’t it? So what does he mean by lifting up holy hands? Hands do a lot of things, right? Yes, no? Our hands do a lot of things. Lifting up holy hands, again, what is the indicator here? Purity, dedicated to God, our work, our effort, our abilities, our strengths, our morals, our principles. In showing that we align ourselves to God’s standard, it’s crucial. It involves every part of my life that has integrity and holiness, a sense of godliness. What demonstrates a life of integrity and obedience to God’s commands? Our family will learn to value righteousness by observing our actions. Sometimes my wife will say, “I need you to be consistent because I want to deal with this, but I cannot have you saying something else.” And at times I will say to her, “I want to deal with this one thing, but I cannot have you say something else because I need the consistency of this so that the kids understand this.”

The demonstrating of this, the demonstration of it, is important. So hence, lifting up holy hands. Our actions, our deeds, our life of obedience that is dedicated to God. A life submitted to God. A life that pursues morality and purity. Our physical posture of prayer often reflects our heart’s

condition. A life surrendered to God. Men, as we do this, watch your effectiveness in prayer increase.

Then he goes on to say, “Without anger and quarreling.” Without anger and quarreling, free from wrath, free from resentment, free from bitterness. Anger and quarrel tell me how much damage it does, isn’t it? And believers, we seem to think it’s very natural. Sometimes parents can demand some other older person to go and forgive, say sorry to their kids when the kid is just a brat, a disrespectful brat, a tantrum-throwing brat. Why? Because Dad himself has not put that principle down. So we have this anger, this resentment. How about cultivating a heart that has peace and forgiveness? Oh, I remember in church, oh, I remember at work, and then we remember things in relatives. My goodness, to eternity past, we will take it like it matters to God. God looks at it and says, “I forgave you, what’s your problem?” And we think that becomes our badge of honor to say, “Hey, you wronged me.” Hey, SP, look, how many people have you wronged? That anger, that thing of react, walk away, walk from relationship, walk from church is a display of arrogance, a strong display of arrogance.

Move away from contentious conversations, arguments, pursue peace. Do we pursue, are we people, men, are we men people who pursue peace? Look at the way people slug things out in society and it all comes on social media. Men, the exhortation here is this: We build our character, it causes us to pursue peace, purity, sincerity in relationships. And sincere relationships, what does it do? It directs us to avoid conflict, emphasizing what? Emphasizing a life living a life dedicated to God’s standards. It’s challenging, isn’t it? We can’t skirt around scripture. We can’t. And I think that’s one of the things we are afraid to read consistently because of what we see. See, by living a life dedicated to God’s standards, what do we do? We cultivate a faithful and prayerful life, a positive life that honors God, influences the home, influences the workplace, influences society. And that’s important.

Fathers, men, this scripture calls us to be pillars of prayer, peace in home, at work, and in society. Our world is filled with turmoil and conflict. Our role is crucial. Blessed are the peacemakers, so our example needs to be consistent. Prayer needs to be engaging, a heart that is free from anger, a life that pursues godliness. Now this is not a passive call but an active challenge to lead by example, showing our children and our community what it means to live a life centered on God’s love and righteousness. That’s important.

Mothers, I got two scriptures to read. One, of course, is following after Paul speaking to Timothy. Now he continues to speak to the men, but now he is addressing the women. He said, “I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes.” Definitely some of our politicians’ wives never read this. Okay, don’t get upset, I thought somebody was going to throw something at me. “But with good deeds,” look at the contrast, “but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” He didn’t say appropriate for women, full stop. No, he’s saying here, appropriate for women who profess. That means you say you worship God. Hey, then there is an indicative thing on how you actually behave. So that’s one. 

Proverbs 31:26, Proverbs 31, it talks about that virtuous woman, isn’t it? So some guys will say, “I want a Proverbs 31 wife.” I’m going to say, “Can you match a Proverbs 31 wife? Why? You want to have a standard but you compromise what is happening here.” So men also get real, huh? Your life also adjusts accordingly. Proverbs 31:26 says, “She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” I thought, uh, Gabella captured the mother more than the father anyway. I don’t have dad jokes and I’m not the tease at home, you know, kind. Though I may look like one, but yeah. Living in modesty and speaking with wisdom. When we look at these scriptures and so many more, but in this context, what do we understand? The word modesty can be in our culture, in our lives today, we can look at it very differently. But when you look back in the original text, it has the understanding of reverence and respect. It has the idea

of reverence and respect, humility of character. So the outward appearance is a reflection of the inward character. Then it says good works, right? So it’s contrasted with this whole thing of external extravagance and he says do good works.

I want to read two other scriptures. 1 Peter 3 and 4 says this, “Your beauty,” he’s addressing women, he says, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment.” Today we have what you call Photoshop, airbrush, all these models that look so nice. And then girls, you go and starve yourself to look that way. That one on the picture, bluff. Then you have videos that show you in the morning how you look, then how you can look like this. And the whole ordeal takes one hour to dress up. I’m like, one hour wasting just to get ready? Wow, okay. You know, first the eyeliner, the… please, ladies, don’t get upset with me. Wow, you got to put what?

Foundation, base, blusher, blush, okay, blusher. I don’t know all the names, but wow. Then the guys also want to go into it. See, this external… I’m not saying go and dip your face in vinegar and come out. I’m not saying that either, please. Yeah, decently, you want to put the makeup on, God bless you, do it. But when that becomes such an external and your external features become so important, what’s happening on the inside? “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as elaborate hairstyles and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

You see, in man’s sight, we may look really good, but in God’s sight, God is looking beyond the external beauty and external adornments. And he says, “I want to see the beauty of the inside.” But again, our society makes us so insecure. Our society makes us so insecure. Social media causes us to be so insecure. Relatives make you so insecure. Wedding time, who is going to outdress whom? Who is going to wear the more expensive clothing? Oh dear. You realize all

these externals, we are trying to impress people that we hate so that they can hate us more. All the externals on how we look. I’m not saying go and look like you came out from the jungle after one week. I’m not saying that either. Please dress neatly, comb your hair, and for the love of God, brush your teeth. Yes, do that. But if that is all so much and you are so conscious, are we conscious of what’s taking place on the inside? Because that lives forever, that goes on for eternity. So if I live for the temporal, I miss eternity.

How many girls today, suicidal, all these different things. Why? Because we think that the external beauty is what it’s all about. And guys, you don’t help. You don’t help because you are also attracted to outward beauty until you get married and it’s a nightmare. So we can be, we

can celebrate Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, but I’m saying the principle of it is what we must celebrate, what we must live for.

Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Impart modesty, impart wisdom, impart kindness. Demonstrate kindness, gentleness, and guide with love. Moms, ladies, you know, whether you are the teacher, whatever teacher, as long as not okay, the one gone, okay, whatever it is, big sister, whatever it is, auntie, mom, whatever you are called to be, a voice of wisdom, kindness in your home, at your workplace, and in society. We are influenced by all these things. Young people, are you influenced by kindness or rudeness that you see on social media? We pick up all that rude behavior. 

Young people don’t like to be corrected, even in church. And the moment you correct them, they are out and they will kick a hissy fit and they make you look the worst and they need to be confronted. Not in difficult, but say, “Justify this, your comments, what’s happening here, why?” We are shaping the heart of a generation and these kids are going to get married. And when they get married, they’re going to perpetuate that same attitude. Take a step back. Look at our world. Isn’t it broken enough? Ladies, your gentle guidance, your wise counsel is invaluable in this harsh, fast-paced world. It’s invaluable. Your words shape the hearts and minds of your children, nurturing them in the ways of the Lord. And young people, please look up here. Young people, don’t turn around and say, “You’re old, what do you know?” Remember, you will get there. You don’t want to eat your own words. And all the rest said, “Thank you.”

Young people, seriously, you’re going to eat your words. Don’t display that. Mom, Dad, grandparents, display that and in one sense, leave them without an excuse. They’ve been given their example, but if we have not, then it’s dangerous. Embrace your role, women, with joyfulness, knowing that your influence extends beyond your home into society as a Christlike behavior model. Who are our models today? Oh God, have mercy. We call them influencers. Remember I call them what? Influenza A or influenza B? They’re a virus, but we are so trapped with them.

I was telling the young people yesterday, most of them were in the home. It was such a delightful time to have them over to the house. I had a very difficult weekend. I had gone for an event for dignity. And of course, it’s a very social event. It was such a troubling time for me because young girls were playing as hostesses and married men were there with all their drinks. And I watched how these men, several times somebody said, “Have a drink.” I said, “No, my soda and my lime soda is good for me.” Telling my wife, I said, “I needed to be sure that I didn’t even compromise my position 1%. I’m kidding, not even 1%. Because I’ve already been introduced as the Reverend.” And this girl came and sat next to me. She’s younger than my… she’s about the age of my own daughters. And I’m thinking, where did we fail you? Where did we fail you?

So I go for quite a few of these events because of getting invited for dignity, different issues. But every time I come back with my heart troubled, exhausted emotionally, and I come back and I ask, where did we fail you, young people? Who influenced you? What? This girl, finally, she’s a

bit too close for my comfort. I turn around and look at her and I said, “I’m a pastor.” I think she almost dropped off her stool, you know, for a moment. And immediately she says this without thinking. Immediately she says, “Oh, I wish I was religious.” And I looked at her and I said, “It’s nothing to do with being religious. It’s about a life that you want to have principles in.” I know I made a few people uncomfortable around me with my posture that day, but it’s okay. They will remember me for different things. I wasn’t rude. I wasn’t abrupt. I was friendly to everyone, but I maintained my boundaries very clearly. But I come back and I ask, where did we fail them?

Men, where do we fail the ladies? Whether it’s in the right principle of life, whether it’s bringing correction into their hearts. Sometimes they are so afraid to correct our daughters because we want to be the best friend. Come on, Dad, wake up. Wake up. Hey, young people, wake up. Wake up, because payday comes. We may not pay this for the next 10 years, but 10 years down the road, payday will come.

I struggled through that night when I went home, showered, and like all that’s going through and I’m preparing for this. I say, where? Men. Men, no matter who you are, single, whatever it is. Men, look at me. Men, young men, look at me. Girls, don’t smile. It’s not funny. Look at me. Seriously, bear that standard. It’s not funny. When you compromise, you may be tickled and thrilled and entertained, but how long before that lust becomes your master? Before that compromise becomes a master? Ladies, how long before that compromised emotion becomes the dictator in your life?

I think church, in general, has gray made the lines gray because we want the crowd to come in. We want the crowd to come in, but we have a moral obligation that you succeed in life, not just in your work, but in your home, in your marriage, in your relationships. Don’t raise your kids on the framework of the world.

So, parents, model and live out Christian values consistently. Demonstrate a life surrendered to God. Be prayerful, influenced by your faith, not your opinions. 2 Timothy 1:5 says, “I am reminded,” Paul, this is still Paul writing, “I am reminded of your sincere faith.” What is he seeing in Timothy? “There is something about your faith, Timothy,” he said, “which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice.” He says, “Three generations, grandmother, mother, him.” And Paul later on says this to him, “Timothy, what you have heard from me, pass it down to faithful men.” He says, “That faith was so evident in your grandmother. That faith was

so evident in your mother.” He says, “Timothy, you have it. Those two women influenced you in amazing ways. I am persuaded it now lives in you also.”

Don’t complain, go home, complain about work, complain about church, murmur, murmur, murmur about others, about your business. Model it correctly. Don’t make excuses for your lack of godliness. Build a culture of love and respect. Children will learn from both parents.

I want to close with these two thoughts and one slide, and we will pray. Fathers, mothers, your united effort, older siblings, whatever. Hey, older siblings, you got younger siblings at home, you’re modeling faith for them as well. Your modeled prayer, peace, wisdom, kindness, love, righteousness. What does it do? It creates an environment where God’s presence is so real in

the home. Your example, our example will shape our children as a guiding light in a world that so desperately needs to know what is godly. All social media, all these comments, are they not saying to you how the Bible should be read? So if I remove the boundaries of the scripture, it’s free for all. And when you have free for all, please listen, it’s a free fall. And you don’t know how to get back. And every time somebody talks about it, we get upset. A generation gets upset. They call you old, out of touch. No, principle never changes. Theft is theft, whether you call it donation or not, it’s theft.

We will impact society. The church has such a powerful place to impact society. We are called salt and light. Imagine all our young people living by principle. You tell me how many people they will influence. They may not be the most popular in college, in university, in school, but I tell you something, you will be the most principled one. At work, at business, you’ll be the most principled person. People know you stand for what is right. Why? We give way, we peer pressure, we want to look good with people. Hey, making the right decisions is never easy, but it took Jesus to the cross. We are called to carry our cross. I don’t care if everybody is doing it. I

don’t care. I’m not everybody. I don’t care.

Friends, may God empower us to be steadfast in our faith, to be unwavering in love, to be relentless in pursuing what is right, righteousness. Our example will shine. Our example will be a witness. So we see it here. It’ll be a catalyst. All of us are crying out for a move of God, but the move of God will always expose what’s fractured. So as godly men and women, not just parents, our role at home, in society, at work is so important, especially again in this woke and cancel culture so prevalent.

I want us to stand as I look at my last worship team. You can come up. My last slide. Yeah, maybe we can put our headphones down first. Yeah, I know I’m saying amen, but come on,

finishing finally. Can I meet you for lunch? That’s another habit we can break. I want to talk to all of us who are parents, going to be parents, all of us adults. What hope do our children have? What hope does the next generation have if God’s words and presence don’t affect me? Young people, what hope does your future have if God’s word doesn’t affect you and impact you? I’m serious. Smoke if you want to, but I’m so serious with this. Influence your family and serve as a light in your community.

I want you to think about what I’ve said. Paul says, “Therefore, I desire that men everywhere lift up holy hands.” Women, that you don’t just adorn yourself with an outward beauty but an inward modesty. So the call is simple. It’s having a courageous response and saying, “God, I want to carry the cross.” It’s not an easy thing. It’s a challenging thing, but I want to live a life that makes a difference to my colleagues, to my family, to my friends, to my brothers, to my sisters, to my children, to the young God everywhere, to make a difference. Let’s take a few moments, Church.